“You should have done. No, what am I saying?” Dorothy checked herself, surprised by her tongue. “Brian wondered if you were going to move?”

“From Shepperton?”

“From this house, at least—you ought to make a fresh start somewhere.”

“No…” I watched Alice and Lucy vigorously cleaning the treehouse. A flurry of leaves was followed by an old stuffed toy, loyal companion of years, that plunged head-first to the newly mown grass. Women were ruthless from an early age, and needed to be. “We’ve made a fresh start. It’s best if we stay here and face things.”

“You’ll keep the children?”

“Of course. It was part of the deal.”

“It’s quite a challenge. Brian and I could have the girls.”

“Thanks, but no. We’ll stick it out together.”

*   *   *

After lunch, when Brian had taken the children to Chessington Zoo, Dorothy and I began to tidy the rooms. As we put away the scattered toys and clothes I had the sense that we were scene-shifters changing a set of props. Everything tilted at an unfamiliar angle. Even Dorothy’s resemblances to her sister, the echo of Miriam’s broad cheekbones and small hands, strong walk and determined hips, made me feel that we were extras rehearsing a scene to be played by others.

“Would you like me to do the bedroom?” Dorothy was staring at the cluttered dressing table and wardrobe. “Heavens, it’s sad. Jim, throw it all away. Clear everything out. Give the clothes to the jumble people.”

“I will, don’t worry. I need a little longer. It’s all that’s left.”

“It isn’t.”

Dorothy held my shoulders, trying to pull me back into the present. I put my hands on her waist, desperate to embrace her. After the spectral women of Rosas beach, Dorothy with her firm hips and comforting breasts was wholly alive. I pressed my hands to her shoulder blades, searching for the familiar contours that Miriam had trained me to recognise. Dorothy stiffened and moved away from me, unsettled by my trembling hands. Then she leaned against me, pressing her cheek to mine, calming my agitated face.

“All right. We’ll go into Henry’s room.”

“No … stay here. In Miriam’s bed.”